Wilson!

My little side yard, formerly a driveway leading to my nearly useless 80 year old garage, has become a haven for migrating birds. Today I was able to photograph through my kitchen window this Wilson's Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla. It's mate, less colorful and much more cautious about sitting still, was also nearby. Here is a link to the Cornell Ornithology project.

My sister Vanessa (see bug blog link) asks: Who's Wilson? Anyone know? She points out that they are very fond of leaf hoppers which are in abundant supply right now, evidenced by all the holes in my Brugmansia.

Answer to above question came from Vanessa herself. The genus (wilsonia) is named for Alexander Wilson, known as the "Father of American Ornithology." In the early 1800s he published nine volumes of notes on birds, their habitats, and their ranges. Alexander Wilson, a Scot, is recognized as the greatest american ornithologist before Audubon. Here are a few links:

New World Warblers by Curson, Quinn and Beadle, ISBN 0-7136-3932-6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson%27s_Warbler

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Wilson